← G911 G913 →

Βαραββᾶς

Barabbâs

G912 noun

SILEX Entry

Root βαρ- son, descent, offspring (by Aramaic analogy)

Definition

Proper name: Barabbas. The primary lexical meaning is 'son of Abba,' where 'Abba' may be interpreted as a personal name or as 'father' (from Aramaic). As a proper name or patronymic, Barabbas identifies an individual whose father's name or honorific is Abba. In the New Testament context, Barabbas is the name of a man imprisoned at Jerusalem and released instead of Jesus during the Passover amnesty.

Semantic Range

Barabbas (proper name), son of Abba (literal Aramaic sense); used exclusively as a personal name in the New Testament

Root / Etymology

From Aramaic components בַּר (bar, 'son') + אַבָּא (abba, 'father' or a personal name Abba). The term is formed via transliteration from Aramaic into Greek. The suggested relationship to 'גָּאוֹן' (ge'on) and 'אֲבַגְתָא' (abagtha) in Strong's is in error; these are unrelated terms.

Historical & Contextual Notes

Barabbas appears exclusively in the Passion narratives of the New Testament (Matthew 27:16-26, Mark 15:6-15, Luke 23:18-25, John 18:40), where he is described as a prisoner involved in insurrection and/or murder, depending on the Gospel. The name appears only in the Greek New Testament and is not attested in earlier literature. In Aramaic, 'Bar' means 'son (of),' while 'Abba' is both an honorific to denote a respected man/father or a personal name. The name could mean 'son of Abba' (personal name) or 'son of the father' (generic honorific), and there is some ambiguity as to whether 'Abba' refers to a common name or not. There is no textual or historical evidence to suggest that Barabbas represents a symbolic figure; the narrative uses the name as a proper noun, not as a title or a metaphor. English translations often render the name simply as 'Barabbas,' transliterating the Greek, and do not attempt to translate its etymological meaning. No evidence connects him with any other historical figure outside the Gospels. No relevant overlap with the Hebrew terms cited in the Strong's entry. In Second Temple and New Testament contexts, patronymic and honorific names of Aramaic form (Bar-) are common (e.g., Bar-Timaeus, Bartholomaios).

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of Chaldee origin (גָּאוֹן and אֲבַגְתָא); son of Abba; Bar-abbas, an Israelite:--Barabbas.

Root Family

Βαραββᾶς (Barabbas) — son, descent, offspring; son of Abba (proper name)

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G912-01 Βαραββᾶν barabban N ACC M SG Barabbas Barabbas 9
G912-02 Βαραββᾶς barabbas N NOM M SG Barabbas Barabbas 2

Occurrences in Scripture

11 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G912-01 Matthew 27:16 Βαραββᾶν barabban N ACC M SG Barabbas
G912-01 Matthew 27:17 Βαραββᾶν barabban N ACC M SG Barabbas
G912-01 Matthew 27:20 Βαραββᾶν barabban N ACC M SG Barabbas
G912-01 Matthew 27:21 Βαραββᾶν barabban N ACC M SG Barabbas
G912-01 Matthew 27:26 Βαραββᾶν barabban N ACC M SG Barabbas
G912-02 Mark 15:7 Βαραββᾶς barabbas N NOM M SG Barabbas Barabbas
G912-01 Mark 15:11 Βαραββᾶν barabban N ACC M SG Barabbas Barabbas
G912-01 Mark 15:15 Βαραββᾶν barabban N ACC M SG Barabbas Barabbas
G912-01 Luke 23:18 Βαραββᾶν barabban N ACC M SG Barabbas Barabbas
G912-01 John 18:40 Βαραββᾶν barabban N ACC M SG Barabbas Barabbas
← G911 Greek Lexicon G913 →